Hi everyone. I'm an avid hunter. I don't want to pass judgement on this hunter,in that incredibly short and detail lacking article, except to say he did make a huge mistake in having a bolt on the crossbow rail while he was cocking it. Other than that, I don't know his circumstances, so I don't think it's fair for me to judge.
I just wanted to comment on something a few of the posters here have brought up, the fact that the hunter is a paraplegic. I belong to a huntclub that has 2 paraplegics on our roster. They are treated like every other member. Richlacal wondered who checked his ability to hunt. While I can't speak for Florida, or other VA huntclubs, mine doesn't check ability. we have a set of rules and guidelines that are expected to be followed. If they are not followed, you are out of the club, no excuses, no refunds. As for his ability to track a wounded deer, after hitting a deer with a crossbow bolt, or regular arrow, most hunters give the animal time to bleed out. After a hit, I normally wait at least an hour before I get out of my stand to go look for blood trail. Maybe he was going to do the same, and in that hour, call a friend to help him track it and drag it out.
The article mentioned hunting from an ATV, I'm not clear on if he was actually hunting from it, or using it to get to his stand or blind. Sue, you were wondering how he would handle a deer. If he got one, he may have planned on using the ATV to drag it back to the hunt club, or perhaps use a winch on the ATV to hang it to clean it there. Hard to say. Maybe he had a radio or cell to call a hunting buddy to help him drag it out.
I'm not trying to nag on anybody here, and hope it doesn't seem like I am. The whole "paraplegic hunter" thing just kinda hit home...my best friend is one of the paraplegics in my huntclub.